Page 87 of Call It Love

Silence. And no footsteps other than my own.

The hope that fluttered through me faded. Discouraged, I went back inside. Jack padded beside me, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air as if he, too, was searching for his new friend. Suddenly, his ears perked and his body stiffened. His eyes trained on one of the rooms off the kitchen. A low whine escaped his throat.

“What is it, boy?” I whispered.

He took a step forward, bristles raised.

That’s when I heard it, too—a soft creak. It was so quiet I might’ve missed it if Jack hadn’t gone on high alert.

My heart thudded against my ribs as I followed him to the room and pushed the door open. Nothing. The beds were empty, not having been made because no one actually stayed here anymore. The closet was closed, but then there was another tiny sound. The faintest of shuffles.

Please let it be him, I thought.Please.

I moved to the closet, hand trembling as I reached for the handle. A dozen possibilities flickered through my mind. I wanted to believe it was Jordan, but it wasn’t impossible it was a vagrant or a trapped animal.

I tightened my grip and yanked the door open.

And there he was.

Curled into the corner, knees pulled tight to his chest. He squinted against the light before recognition flickered in his eyes. Panic. Shame. And something like relief.

“Jordan,” I breathed, dropping to my knees.

He flinched at my movement, an instinctive and defensive reaction.

That’s when I saw it. A purple bruise mottled his swollen cheekbone. A thin cut split his lower lip, crustedbut still raw. There were dark circles under his eyes, but not just from lack of sleep. His shirt was dirty and ripped, and my stomach twisted at the thought of what else it might be hiding.

“Jordan…” My voice cracked as his name slipped out.

Jack moved beside me, nosing into the small space, and let out a soft whimper. For a moment, they stared at each other. Then slowly, carefully, as if it pained him to do so, Jordan reached out and let his hand rest on Jack’s head. Jack stayed perfectly still.

“I didn’t know where to go,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

My throat burned. “Oh, honey. You came to the right place.”

Jordan still didn’t make any effort to move. My knees ached against the floor, but I didn’t move. I kept my voice soft and even as if I were speaking to a frightened animal. Or, in this case, a child. Because that’s what he was—just a boy trying to survive something he never should have had to.

“It’s just me here. I promise you’re safe to come out.”

Jordan kept quiet, but his fingers curled slightly in Jack’s fur.

“I know you must be hurting. And probably scared. But you don’t have to hide anymore.”

A tear slipped down his cheek. His eyes flicked to mine, red-rimmed and cautious.

“Are you hungry? I was going to make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And Sloppy Joes. Or I can make you anything else you want.”

He still didn’t move, but the tension in his shoulders eased some. Jack shifted to rest his head on Jordan’s knee.

“I need to let Chase know you’re okay,” I said, keepingmy voice calm. “He’s out driving around trying to find you. He’s been worried sick. We both have. So have several others.”

His eyes flickered in what I thought might be surprise. He didn’t know how many people cared about him. After a pause, he nodded.

“I’ll be right back,” I promised. “You can come out when you’re ready. I’ll leave Jack with you.”

Again, he only nodded, but his fingers relaxed slightly on Jack’s fur.

I stepped outside the bunkhouse and hit Chase’s contact on my phone with trembling fingers. He answered on the first ring.

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